Triggering of a cleaning, ventilation and/or disinfection process

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a process for actuating a physical/technical process, particularly in toilette facilities, which employs a sound sensor (M) with signal analysis which is located in close proximity to a liquid inlet (8). In a device for automatic cleaning of toilette seats (4), the sensor (M) is built in next to the flushing water inlet. The flushing noises are selected using a signal analysis circuit and cleaning of the seat (4) and evacuation of odors (G) via a ventilator (15) is only triggered if the flushing process has been clearly detected.

The present invention relates to a method for triggering a cleaning,ventilating, disinfecting or deodorizing process, as well as to anapparatus carrying out the method and to applications of the method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A self-cleaning toilet is known from the firm CWS International AG,Baar, having a toilet seat which rotates after actuation of waterflushing system. In one version, the rotation is triggered by anelectrical contact (microswitch; infrared sensor) connected to theactuating lever of the flushing tern. In the second version, theinflowing flushing water, or water mains system, drives a turbine whichsets in motion, a generator, the drive motors for the cleaning andinfection of the toilet seat.

Generally, the known arrangements have proved successful in practice.However, it has been found that problems relating to as ofresponsibility and competence in respect of tallation and maintenancearise, since the installation cannot be dealt with by the ordinarysanitary fitter. In addition, the fact that the control and drive unitof the apparatus is connected to the flushing cistern brings furtheradvantages owing to the highly specific nature of the arrangement, suchas unintentionally initiated operations, as well as a system-relatedsusceptibility to faults.

Generic methods and devices are published in WO85/01560, in which thereis arranged in close proximity to a water outlet, e.g. a shower, anacoustic sensor which, initiated by an acoustic signal, activates asolenoid valve and thus controls the water flow in a contactless manner.The resultant signal voltage is adjusted in an amplifier circuit and ata rectifier bridge using a so-called differentiating network and allowsonly a rudimentary adaptation to the local circumstances. This device isthus restricted to individual applications, as a plurality of wateroutlets equipped in the same way and located one beside the other wouldundergo mutual initiation and activation. Also, the reliability of thesignal detection is inadequate and not sufficiently reproducible fornumerous applications.

It is therefore the object of the invention to trigger aphysical/technical procedure only when this is intended by the user oroperator of the installation. Instances of triggering due to incompleteflushing and/or inflow procedures are also to be eliminated; theprocedure to be triggered must take place in an operationally reliablemanner. A plurality of adjacent inflow and/or flushing procedures mustalso be possible without these influencing one another.

Furthermore, the need for intervention in the rest of the apparatusregion is to be obviated; the responsibility of the installation andmaintenance staff must be able to be clearly laid down, without taskswhich are foreign to their trade being assigned to them.

The subject of the invention is to allow further damp-room-relatedapplications over and above the direct toilet use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by the method of the present invention whereinan acoustic sensor is arranged in close proximity to a flushing orinflow of a liquid. The output of the sensor activates a desired device.The location of the acoustic sensor in close proximity to the inflow ofa liquid causes a first, spatial and selective differentiation in theevent of a plurality of identical or similar sound sources beingpresent. The method results in an improved differentiation of thetriggering sound source from interfering sources which may be present.

The dimensioning of the filter and thus the method can be optimized by aspectral analysis.

The method of the invention may include a calibration step utilizingsequential signal values to derive an average for reference.

After the calibration, the activation of the physical/technical devicecan be reproducibly realized. In particular, this allows incompleteflushing and/or inflow procedures to be detected. Other inflowprocedures which occur during use are also reliably detected as such,that is to say the device cannot be unintentionally activated.

A band filtering in accordance with the apparatus is particularlysuitable for monitoring the flushing inflow into a toilet bowl. Anactive band filter in the range of 8+/-1 kHz can be realizedoutstandingly well and economically.

The use of an electret microphone is also particularly advantageousowing to its selective reception characteristic and its robust design.

The invention may be employed in connection with cleaning anddisinfection of a toilet seat, and prevents triggering of a cleaningprocedure on the toilet seat at the wrong time. In addition, thereresults the great practical advantage of the cleaning and disinfectionbeing completely independent of the rest of the sanitary installationand thus of a clear separation of fields, between sanitary fitter andequipment supplier or equipment technician, in respect of the fittingand also maintenance of the devices being ensured.

The control of an extractor in a toilet and/or in the toilet room allowsventilation which is favourable in terms of energy, and preventsunpleasant draughts.

Deodorant procedures can also be triggered when these are necessary,i.e. instances of inappropriate and material-consuming regulartriggering associated with ordinary door actuations can be eliminated.

Applications can be used to reduce the water consumption; moreover, theyallow the inclusion of further cleaning procedures associated with theuse, for example, of a public toilet.

Devices which are additionally present can also be disabled. and/oractivated in order to allow, for example, their use only in conjunctionwith a controlled toilet use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the subject of the invention are described inmore detail below with reference to drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an electronic circuit for carrying outthe method;

FIG. 2 shows the flow diagram relating to a program which allowscalibration and adaptation of the acoustic sensor and the evaluationcircuit to the characteristic of the sound source;

FIG. 3 shows the signal detection sequence for triggering a propertoilet seat cleaning cycle; and

FIG. 4 shows a simplified representation of a toilet with cleaning anddisinfecting apparatus and a targeted extraction of unpleasant odours atthe place where they arise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for triggering a cleaning,ventilating, disinfecting or deodorizing process as well as to anapparatus for carrying out the method and to applications of the method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A self-cleaning toilet is known from the firm CWS International AG,Baar, having a toilet seat which rotates after actuation of the waterflushing system. In one version, the rotation is triggered by anelectrical contact (microswitch; infrared sensor) connected to theactuating lever of the flushing cistern. In the second version, theinflowing flushing water, or the water mains system, drives a turbinewhich sets in motion, via a generator, the drive motors for the cleaningand disinfection of the toilet seat.

Generally, the known arrangements have proved successful in practice.However, it has been found that problems relating to areas ofresponsibility and competence in respect of installation and maintenancearise, since the installation cannot be dealt with by the ordinarysanitary fitter. In addition, the fact that the control and drive unitof the apparatus is connected to the flushing cistern brings furtherdisadvantages owing to the highly specific nature of the arrangement,such as unintentionally initiated operations, as well as asystem-related susceptibility to faults.

Generic methods and devices are published in WO85/01560, in which thereis arranged in close proximity to a water outlet, e.g. a shower, anacoustic sensor which, initiated by an acoustic signal, activates asolenoid valve and thus controls the water flow in a contactless manner.The resultant signal voltage is adjusted in an amplifier circuit and ata rectifier bridge using a so-called differentiating network and allowsonly a rudimentary adaptation to the local circumstances. This device isthus restricted to individual applications, as a plurality of wateroutlets equipped in the same way and located one beside the other wouldundergo mutual initiation and activation. Also, the reliability of thesignal detection is inadequate and not sufficiently reproducible fornumerous applications.

It is therefore the object of the invention to trigger aphysical/technical procedure only when this is intended by the user oroperator of the installation. Instances of triggering due to incompleteflushing and/or inflow procedures are also to be eliminated; theprocedure to be triggered must take place in an operationally reliablemanner. A plurality of adjacent inflow and/or flushing procedures mustalso be possible without these influencing one another.

Furthermore, the need for intervention in the rest of the apparatusregion is to be obviated; the responsibility of the installation andmaintenance staff must be able to be clearly laid down, without taskswhich are foreign to their trade being assigned to them.

The subject of the invention is to allow further damp-room-relatedapplications over and above the direct toilet use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by the method of the present invention whereinan acoustic sensor is arranged in close proximity to a flushing orinflow of a liquid. The output of the sensor activated a design device.The location of the acoustic sensor in close proximity to the inflow ofa liquid causes a first, spatial and selective differentiation in theevent of a plurality of identical or similar sound sources beingpresent. The method results in an improved differentiation of thetriggering sound source from interfering sources which may be present.

The dimensioning of the filter and thus the method can be optimized by aspectral analysis.

The method of the invention may included a calibration step utilizingsequential signal values to derive an average for reference. After thecalibration, the activation of the physical/technical device can bereproducibly realized.

The control of an extractor in a toilet and/or in the toilet room allowsventilation which is favourable in terms of energy, and preventsunpleasant draughts.

Deodorant procedures can also be triggered when these are necessary,i.e. instances of inappropriate and material-consuming regulartriggering associated with ordinary door actuations can be eliminated.

Applications can be used to reduce the water consumption; moreover, theyallow the inclusion of further cleaning procedures associated with theuse, for example, of a public toilet.

Devices which are additionally present can also be disabled and/oractivated in order to allow, for example, their use only in conjunctionwith a controlled toilet use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the subject of the invention are described inmore detail below with reference to drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block digram of an electronic circuit for carrying outthe method;

In particular, this allows incomplete flushing and/or inflow proceduresto be detected. Other inflow procedures which occur during use are alsoreliably detected as such, that is to say the device cannot beunintentionally activated.

A band filtering in accordance with the apparatus is particularlysuitable for monitoring the flushing inflow into a toilet bowl. Anactive band filter can be realized outstandingly well and economically.

The use of an electret microphone is also particularly advantageousowing to its selective reception characteristic and its robust design.

The invention may be employed in connection with cleaning anddisinfection of a toilet seat, and prevents triggering of a cleaningprocedure on a toilet seat at the wrong time. In addition, there resultsthe great practical advantage of the cleaning and disinfection beingcompletely independent of the rest of the sanitary installation and thusof a clear separation of fields, between sanitary fitter and equipmentsupplier or equipment technician, in respect of the fitting and alsomaintenance of the devices being ensured.

FIG. 2 shows the flow diagram relating to a program which allowscalibration and adaptation of the acoustic sensor and the evaluationcircuit to the characteristic of the sound source;

FIG. 3 shows the signal detection sequence for triggering a propertoilet seat cleaning cycle; and

FIG. 4 shows a simplified representation of a toilet with cleaning anddisinfecting apparatus and a targeted extraction of unpleasant odours atthe place where they arise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 a commercially available quad amplifier is denoted by A100.This amplifier comprises series-connected operational amplifiers A1 toA4 which are operated or fed back in the customary fashion according totheir function.

The series of amplifiers thus comprises a single four-stage wide-bandoperational amplifier A100; one of the type LM 837N (NationalSemiconductors, USA) has proved successful.

This operational amplifier A100 is fed an input signal e, thefrequency-selective output signal from an acoustic sensor; the amplifiedand demodulated control signal is denoted by S. The characteristicearthing of the amplifier A100 is necessary for electrical and safetyreasons.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for triggering a cleaning, ventilating,disinfecting and/or deodorizing procedure in washrooms and/or toiletrooms by means of an acoustic sensor arranged in close proximity to aflushing and/or inflow procedure of a liquid and having an adjustablesignal amplifier and a filter, characterized in that a frequency bandfilter connected upstream of the signal amplifier is tuned to acharacteristic spectral range of the triggering procedure in which soundfrequencies with the maximum energy lie.
 2. A method according to claim1, characterized in that the flushing and/or inflow procedure isrepeated at least twice and in that an output signal emitted by theacoustic sensor is checked after amplification for a signal level whichit is expected to have, and in that an average value is determined froma plurality of sequential measurements for a same flushing and/or inflowprocedure, which average value is stored, together with an average valueof at least one further flushing and/or inflow procedure, as a sumaverage value in a non-volatile, electronic memory as a base setting. 3.A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the output signalemitted by the acoustic sensor is repeatedly fed, after its analysis andafter a time delay, to a comparator circuit which compares the outputsignal with a preset signal value, in that a duration of the outputsignal is checked and in that if the duration exceeds a preset value isa controlled device activated.
 4. Apparatus for carrying out the methodfor triggering a cleaning, ventilating, disinfecting and/or deodorizingprocedure in washrooms and/or toilet rooms, by means of an acousticsensor arranged in close proximity to a flushing and/or inflow procedureof a liquid and having an adjustable signal amplifier and a filter,according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the acousticsensor is arranged in a toilet bowl proximate the flushing inflow and inthat the useful signal for activating the controlled device lies in therange from 8 kHz+/-1 kHz and has a half-width value of less than 1 kHz.5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that a 2nd orderactive band filter is connected downstream to the acoustic sensor. 6.Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that four operationalamplifiers are connected downstream to the acoustic sensor the firstoperational amplifier having a signal amplification of at least a factorof 50, the second operational amplifier having a signal amplification ofat least a factor of 5 and being operated as a band filter, in that thethird operational amplifier is a demodulator, and in that the fourthoperational amplifier is operated as a current amplifier to obtain aswitching signal.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized inthat the acoustic sensor is an electret microphone.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that thedevice to be activated is an apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting atoilet seat.
 9. The method according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3,characterized in that the device to be activated is an extractor in thetoilet and/or in the toilet room.
 10. The method according to claim 1,claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the device to be activated isa spraying and/or evaporating apparatus for disinfecting and/ordeodorizing a toilet room.
 11. The method according to claim 1, claim 2,or claim 3, characterized in that the device to be activated is anelectromechanical water valve of a flushing system or of a urinal orwhich is in connection with a toilet.
 12. The method according to claim1, claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the device to be activatedis an electromechanical relay which enables further devices for use.